Cycling Tour - View Prices and Schedule

Operation Dynamo and the Dunkirk Evacuation
Calais/Dunkirk/Ypres/Eperlecques/Calais

De Gaulle called it a 'fatal avenue' - the broad sweep of low-lying, flat country stretching north-east of Paris and bounded by the English Channel Over the centuries, invading armies have swept back and forth over this landscape , most recently as the British Expeditonary Force retreated to Dunkirk in May 1940.

Our cycle covers much of the ground that would have been familiar to thousands of men as they headed back to the coast, in the hope of what would have seemed an unlikely miracle – passage back to the UK and safety. It is ground too across which thousands of British soldiers would have marched 22 years earlier as they headed to the front line at Ypres.

Schedule, Prices & Booking

Sample Tour Itinerary

Starting and finishing in Dover.

Day 1
After crossing the Channel, our tour will take us along the coast from Dunkirk to De Panne. Today’s cycle will include a visit to the Musee Dunkerque 1940 and the Dunkirk Memorial. Tide permitting we will also visit the remains of shipwrecks at Bray Dunes.

Overnight in De Panne

Day 2
Cycling along the coast from De Panne to Niuepoort, the northernmost point of the Western Front in WW1, and then along the River Ijzer to Ypres. The Ijzer was on the front line in the Great War and traces of trenches still remain.

Overnight in Ypres

Day 3
A circular cycle around Ypres. Inevitably there are a great many reminders of the fighting that took place here in World War One. However, this is also where the BEF held up the Wermacht in May 1940. We will examine evidence of both conflicts as we cycle along quiet country lanes and cycle paths.

In the evening an opportunity to attend the Last Post ceremony at the Menin Gate.

Overnight in Ypres

Day 4
Cycling from Ypres to Poperinghe and then on to the hilltop town of Cassel. It was here that men of the Glosters and the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry held up the German advance, allowing the evacuation at Dunkirk to proceed. We cycle on the village of Zuytpeene, again used by the British to slow down the German advance and then on to our overnight stop in St Omer.

Overnight in St Omer

Day 5
We cycle from St Omer to Calais today. On the way we call in to the V2 launch site at Eperlecques before heading to the coast road that takes us back into Calais. We will stop on the way to look at a section of the Atlantic Wall here – the formidable Oldenburg complex.

Accommodation

If you wish us to book accommodation, a wide range is available. The area has numerous 3 and 4-star hotels. Many clients opt to book on a bed and breakfast basis. There are plenty of restaurants en route, catering for most tastes. We will be on hand to advise you of the best places to eat in any case.

Travel Arrangements

Typically our tours start and finish at Dover ferry terminal.
Please note that for all cycling tours you are required to bring your own equipment including, for this tour, your own bicycle.

Outward Journey:
As our tour starts in Dunkirk, the easiest option is to take the ferry to the port of Dunkirk. Our vehicle will be on hand to pick up luggage.

Return Journey:
The tour finishes in Calais. It is possible to travel back either by ferry or Eurostar from Calais Frethun (if you do not need to return to Dover).

Please note that for all cycling tours you are required to bring your own equipment such as helmets etc. Bikes are included in the tour price.